Apparatus for assembling fins and the like



July 9, 1946- R. c. s'ruTz 2,403,466 APPARATUS -FOR ASSEMBLING FINS AND` THE LPIKE Filed sept. 12, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 W JZ IN ENTOR. 6 @fax-C.

uf and July9,1946; R C, STUTZ V 2,403,466

I APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING FINS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47"27219 ,afyfq'ir'wfzw 3 i 4 o6 W`4 l M1 HI'Q) :L Il

Patented- July 99 'i946 gaeta I 2,403,466 I v APPARATUS Foa AssnMnLnzo FiNs AND Robert o. Stutz, Bueno, N. Y., assigner to" Niagara Blower Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York c sppucauonseptember 12, musea-s1 No. 553,745

This invention relates to apparatus for assembling iins or the like, particularly the metal fins used to provide an extended surface on heating vor cooling coils, th tins being assembled in a predetermined parallel face-to-i'ace` spaced relationship and having registering openingsthrough which the tubes are inserted, the tubes being subsequently expanded or otherwise united to each fin so that the fins serve to provide an extended surface for the tubes and increase the rate of heat transfer, between the iiuid owing through the tubes and the air or other medium flowing past the hns and tubes.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an extremely simple apparatus for successively dropping the tins from a. stack, one at a time, into a form in properly spaced relationship to provide a nned structure having the 'lns in the desired spaced relationship and position.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which willdeposit the ns at a high rate of speed, the apparatus being'capable of depositing flns'at a spacing of seven fins per inch at a rate of 220 ns per minute.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which will deposit the ns accurately and positively so that the machine does not Jamin its operation and so that the operator is not required to go along behind the apparatus and straighten misplaced uns.

Another aim is to provide such apparatus which is self-contained and easily portable so that after a group ci ns has been .deposited in one form, the apparatus can be lifted to another form to continue its operation while tubes are being inserted in the assembled iins.

`another purpose is to provide such apparatus y which is free from the necessity o! close supervision and which will deposit fins from a lstack of a substantial quantity so that the operator is free to set up the apparatus for inserting and expanding the tubes while the apparatus is depositing the dns.

Another' aim is to provide such apparatus which is readily adjustable to deposit the ns at any desired spacing.

Other objects are to provide such apparatuswhich is simple and inexpensive in construction and which will stand up under conditions of severeand constant use without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation oi a iin assembling machine embodying the present invention and is claims. `(cnam-si showing .the same mounted on 'a form which is in the deinternally grooved to receive the ns sired spaced relation. y

Fig. 2 ,is a vertical central sectional view through the apparatus and showing a part oi' the form in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary' view similar to'Fig. 2 and showing one of the fins released and about to drop into the form.

Fig. d is a transverse sectional view through the form showing the rear .end of the apparatus. Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary' vertical sectional views, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 3. v

Fig. 7 fis a fragmentary vertical sectional view,

taken on line l-l, Fig. d.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the motor and I start and stop switch of the apparatus.

The apparatus forming the subject ofthe present invention isparticularly designed to assemble the metal ilns i9 used in fabricating extended n surfaced heating and cooling coils, these ns being of rectangular outline and having regularly spaced tube receiving circular openings i6 therein, the metal from each of these openings being formed to provide an annular nipple i2, these nipples projectingoutwardly iroin one face of each un. The machine embodying the present invention assembles these fins i@ in face-to-face equally spaced relationship with the corresponding openings and nipples it, t2 of the ns in register with each other so that tubes (not shown) can, be threaded through the registering openings i! to be subsequently expanded or otherwise rigidly secured to the; nipples i 2 thereof.

For this purpose the apparatus forming the one at a time, from a stack of fins, edgewise into a form which is internally grooved to receive the ns in the desired spacing, `this form preferably being constructed as follows:

The numeral id represents an elongated base suitably supported on legs it. l.'iriis base carries a pair of elongatedl side walls it which extend lengthwise along the sides of the base and form between them an elongated nn receiving channel indicatori` generally at it. An angle iron 2t is secured to the outer face of each of the side walls it along the top edge thereof, the two angle irons 2d forming the two rails of a track for supporting the apparatus forming the subject of the invention as hereinafter described. The opposing faces of the side walls ia ol' the form are vertically grooved, afs indicated at 2 l, to provide registering fin receiving slots of the desired spacing and each pair lcontaining a stack of fins opposite longitudinal edges of one of the nns Il. At the upper end vof each slot 2| the meta1 between the slots is chamfered or beveled, as indicated at 22, this bevel extending upwardly and to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, and servof which are adapted to receive the stack of ilns I is moved up and down in ing to provide an enlarged mouth at the upper end of each of the nn receiving grooves 2| as well as to provide a small angular face for guiding the lower edge of each of the fins I0 into each groove.

The fin assembling apparatus is in the form of a self-propelled carriage, indicated generally at 25, which rides along the rails 20 of the form and I0, a mechanism being provided on the carriage for dropping the nns one at a. time into the successive pairs of opposing grooves 2| ofthe form. The carriage is shown as comprising a pair of vertical side plates 26 which are rigidly connected together as herein-` after described and each side plate being supported by a pair of rollers 28 which ride on the corresponding rail 20. 'Ihe carriage can be additionally guided along the rails 20 by a pair of side rollers 29 depending from each side plate 26 and engaging the opposing sides of the side plates I8.

An electric motor 30 is secured to the outer face of one of the side plates 26 and, through a reducing gear 3|, drives a cross shaft 32 which is suitably Journaledin the side plates 26. Within the carriage a pinion 33 is fast to this cross shaft 32, this pinion meshing with a gear 34 fast to a main drive shaft 35, the ends of this main drive shaft being likewise suitably journaled in the side plates 26 of the carriage. A pair of gear wheels 36 are secured to this main drive'shaft 35 adjacent the side plates 26 and, as best shown in Fig. 6, have teeth which mesh with the chamfered or beveled upper ends 22 of the fin receiving slots 2| in the side walls I8 of the form. It will therefore be seen that the motor 36 in driving these gear wheels 36 serves to-propel the carriage 25 along the rails 20 on its rollers 26, the movement of the carriage being from left to right as viewed in Figs. 1 3.

The rear ends of the two side plates 26 of the carriage are connected by a rod 40 on which a platform 4| is pivotally mounted, this platform extending across the space between the two side plates 26 and hayinga free end at the rear end of the carriage which is capable of being moved up and down by virtue of the pivotal mounting the cross rod 40. This plat-l of the platform on form is adapted to support a stack4 of the fins I0, these fins being arranged with their longitudinal edges along the opposing faces of the side walls 26 and in a generally vertical position, the stack of fins leaning rearwardly or toward the left, as viewed in Figs. l-3, and being supported by the ends of a pair of set screws 42 mounted in a block 43 carried by. a cross-piece 44 which connects the rear ends of the two side plates 26 and is shown as secured to outwardly extending vertical flanges 45 thereof by screws 46. The rear end of each of the set screws 42 is slotted and accessible from chine, as best shown in Fig. 4. and a lock nut 4l is provided on each. of these set screws, thereby to determine the angular position of the stack of ns I6 bearing-against the forward ends of the set screws. v The rearmost fin of the stack of fins I0 on the platform 4I is split from the stack and dropped into a corresponding pair of opposed slots 2| in 'the form in timed relation `to the .movement of the carriage along the rails 2l. For this purpose the free end of the platform 4| carrying the timed relation to the travel of the carriage. This is accomplished by a star wheel 5B which is fast to the main shaft 35 and having its teeth engaging with the pointed end of a screw 5| secured in a bracket 52 supporting the free end of the platform 4|. This pointed screw 5| can be held in proper relation to the teeth of the star wheel 50 by a lock nut 53. It will be seen that as the main drive shaft 35 rotates, the corresponding tooth 4of the star wheel-50 lifts the pointed screw 5|.

When the point of this screw travels beyond the edge of this tooth of the star -wheel it drops down onto the next succeeding tooth of the star wheel. Since the pointed pin 5| isfast to the free end of the platform, it will be seen that this free end of the platform will be moved up and down, for

each revolution of the main shaft 35, a number A of times equal to the number of teeth on the star plate 26 while its upper pointed end 56 is arthe rear of the mawheel-50.

An angular guide rail 55 is secured to the inner face of each side plate 26, the lower end of this guide rail being arranged adjacent the rearmost end of the lower edge of the corresponding side ranged adjacent the rearmost extremity or free end of the platform 4| 'and is formed to provide a forwardly facing face which forms an abutment to retain the stack of fins I0 on the platform. These guide rails 55 coact with a curved pointed finger 58 to split the rearmost fin I0, at its lower end, from the stack each time the platform 4| is moved to its elevated position. For this purpose the finger 58 is mounted on the rear end of a y bell crank lever 59 which is pivoted at the center of the free end ofthe platform 4| to swing about an axis parallel with the axis of oscillation of the platform 4|. The upwardly extending pointed end of the curved `linger 58 works through a notch 60 provided at the free edge of the platform 4| and when the bell crank lever ,59 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, the curved finger 58 enters between the last two ns `lil of the stack of fins on the platform 4|.

Thatsend of the bell crank lever 58 extending toward the front end of the carriage is connected by a vertical link 62 with a cross rod 63 between the two side plates 26 of the carriage. Since this rod is 4rigid with the carriage, it will be seen that as the free end of the platform 4| is moved upwardly, toward the position shown in Fig. 3, the curved finger likewise is moved upwardly through the notch `6i! and between the last two fins l0 on this platform. When 'the platform 4| passes above the pointed ends 56 of the two side rails 55, the curving form ofthe finger 58 pushes the lower end of the rearmost fin I0 rearwardly and guides it onto the guide rails 55 down which it is free to fall. At the same time the finger 58 acts as a detent to prevent the next succeeding iin I0 of the stack from being released until the next succeeding elevation of the platform 4| by the star wheel 50.

To insure the proper coaction between the curved finger 53 in releasing the endmost iin I0,

Y j '5 up or down along its slot 86 thereby to precisely adjust the `timing of the pushing action of this' iinger on the endmost n I0.

To insure the free fall of the 'endmost iin oi the stack of ns on the platform 4i, means are also provided for positively splitting of! this iin at itstop, as well as at its bottom, as just described. To this end a strip S8 of spring metal is secured to the center of the block 43 carried by thecrossplece 49, this strip projecting :from the block 43 toward the iront end of the machine. At its free end this spring strip 68 carries a. V- shaped tooth 69 having an inclined face 1li toward the iront of the carriage and having an abrupt on the next upward movement of the platform iithe tooth SB enters between the last two ns iii of the stack and thereby splits oir the rearmost n. At the time when the platform 4i reaches the upper extremity of its movement and the lower edge of the rearmost iin is released, the uppermost edge of this n is likewise released.

In order to guide the lower edge o the falling iin lil into its properl pair of the slots 2l, a leaf spring 'l2 is secured to andforms an extension ofthe upper face of :each ofsthe guide rails 55. These springs engage the chamfered or bevel faces 22 at the upper ends of these slots and insure that l the lower edge oi' the falling nn is guided into the proper pair of slots 2i.r Since the leaf springs l2 are iiexible, they readily click along the charnfered faces 22 'as the carriage moves along the form. v

It is important, of course, that the fins be in a vertical position when they fall vertically into the slots 2i. /It has been found by experience that the lower edges of the falling dns, if unrestrained, tend to swing beyond a vertical position before lthey enter the predetermined pair of slots. 'To restrain this tendency, spring leaves 'le are secured to the` outside of the side plates @t of the carriage by bolts I each extending through this switch in series with the motor 30, as shown inA Fig. 8, the carriage will be automatically stopped after a predetermined number of iins I0 by the setting 28 on the rails 20 forming the top of the side walls I8 of the form. The movement of the carriage 25 is from left to right, as viewed in Figs. 145. Sidewise movement of the carriage 25 off of the rails 20 is prevented by the pairs of side rollers 29 which engage the sides of the walls i8. This self-propelled movement o! the carriage is continued until the lever 82 of the stop switch 8i on the carriage engages the pin 8i! on the form, this switch being opened on engaging the pin and deenergizing the motor 3S which is in series with it;

The rotation of the main drive shaft also rotates the star wheel te fast thereto, this causing each tooth of this star wheel to lift the pointed pin 5l and then permit this pin to fall back to stack of iins on this platform is retained thereon a longitudinal ,slot il in the spring leaf so that these leaves are adjustable forwardly and rear= wardly. The free rear end of these spring leaves 'i5 are each formed to provide an inwardly projecting nger 'i8 which projects through a hole i9 in the corresponding side plate 2e of the carv riage. These iingers 'i3 are inthe path of the opposite vertical edges of the fins It and engage the lower parts of these fins just before the lower edges of the hns enter the pair of grooves 2i of the forms. These spring fingers 18 areinclined inwardly and toward the trailing end` of the carl riage so as to be brushed aside by the passing ns but exert a restraining eect which serves to insure that each n is in a vertical position as it falls into its pair of slots 2 I.

To determine the number of iins which the apparatus will deposit in its travel, a pin 80 can be arranged; either iixed or adjustably, along one of thed rails 2D. On the carriage a start and stop switch 8| can be mounted so that its operating lever 82 engages this pin 80 when the carriage reaches thlspoint in its travel along the rails to. The-movement of the switch lever 82 against this pin''serves'to open the switch and by arranging the next succeeding tooth of this star wheel. Since the pointed pin l is fixed to the free rear end of the platform 4i by the bracket 52, this vertically reciprocating movement of the pointed pin 5l is transmitted to the platform M.

' The iins i0 are stacked upon this platform di in the position shown in Fig. 3. Each time the' platform di reciprocates downwardly the upper end of the rearmost nn i6 is freed from the inclined rear face 1Q or the tooth 69 carried by the metal strip B8 and falls against the forward ends of the pair of set screws 42. On the next upward movement of the platform 4l, the ringer te is brought between the last two iins of the pack thereby splitting oil the upper end of the endmost 1in to permit it to fall but retaining the balance of the stack of ns upon the platform di In the lowered position of the platform il the by the engagement of the upper pointed ends EE of the two guide rails 55 with the face of the endmost n. As the platform rises the curved iinger 58 is swung upwardly so as to be interposed between the last two fins and also to shove and guide the lower end of the endmost fin over the pointed ends 56 of the guide rails o'. This upward movement of the curved nger is edected by its mounting on one end of the heil crank lever 5t, the other end of this bell crank lever being connected by the Vlink S2 to the cross rod 23 of the carriage frame. Upward movement of the platforrnrfli thereby rotates the bell crank lever 59' clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3'.

Since on the extreme upward movement of the platform di the upper end of the endmost n I 0 is released with the balance of the stach held at the top by the tooth 69, and since at this time the lower end of the endmost rin lo has been pushed over the pointed upper end of the two guide rails t5 by the curved iinger d@ 'with the balance of the stack held at the bottom by the curved nger 58, it will be seen that the endmost iin sfree to fall, as indicated by -full lines in Fig. 3 and by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The lower' end of the falling endmost iin is i guided into the proper pair of slots 2i by the guide rails 55 and the springv leavesV T2 'pro- ,Seating from the ends of these guide rails. Y The tendency of the lower end of the falling iin to the spring fingers 18 which project inwardly from the opposite side plates 26 of the carriage and are brushed aside by the falling nn but serve to restrain its lower end sumciently so that the fin is vertical onentering the slots 2l and falls freely into the same. l t v If it is desired to use the apparatus with a form having a dinerent spacing of slots 2l so as to provide a finned structurehaving more or less fins to the inch, all that is necessary to adapt the apparatus to this new condition is to change the star wheel 50 and the two wheels to ones having an appropriate number of teeth. Since the timing of the-movement of the carriage to the dropping of the fins is determined by this star wheel l and the two wheels N. it will be seen that any desired timing can be secured by so changing these wheels.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an extremely port- 8 moving said wedge-shaped finger means lendwise relative to said stack to enter rsaid space and push olf the endmost fin to a position `beyond the extremity of said platform, said successively split of! fins falling edgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves.

3. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like, a. frame forming a fin receiving form, fin retaining means mounted on able and inexpensive apparatus for assembling fins in a form. Further, the apparatus is extremely rapid in its operation, deposits the fins with a high degree of accuracy and operates with little supervision or service dimculties.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like, a frame forming'y a fin receivingV form, fin retaining means mounted on said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves Vfor receiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a platform on said carriage for holding a stack of fins each in an upright position generally in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost fln arranged at one extremity of said platform, means on said carriage adjacent said extremity of said platform for successively splitting oil said endmost ns from said stack and 'shifting them in a direction transverse of their faces to a position beyond said extremity of said platform comprising retaining finger means mounted on said carriage for movement into the space between the endmost nn and the next following n, and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said carriage and moving said finger means relative to said stack to enter said space and push the endmost ,fin to a position beyond the extremity of said platform, and means on said carriage providing a way permitting said split oi! fins to fall by gravity in a substantially vertical position into said vertical spaced grooves.

2. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like, a frame forming a fin receiving form, fin retaining means mounted on said frame' and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted totravel along said retaining means. a platform on said carriage for holding a stack of fins in upright position generally in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost fin arranged at one extremity of said plat..

y form, `and means on 'saidcarriage adjacent said extremity of said platform for successively splitting oi! said endmost fins from said stack and shifting them in a direction transverse'to their faces to a position beyond said extremity of said platform, comprising wedge-shaped finger means mounted on said carriage for endwise movement into the space between the endmost iin and the next following fin and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said carriage and said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the ns. a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a platform on said carriage for holding a stack of fins in upright position generally in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost iin arranged at one extremity of said platform, means on said carriage adjacent said extremity of said platform for successively splitting off said endmost fins from said stack and shifting them in a direction transverse to .their faces to a position beyondsaid extremity of said platform, comprising a stop mounted on 'said carriage and engaging the exposed face of the endmost iin and a finger mounted on said carriage for movement into the space between the endmost fin retained by said stop and means for' lmoving said stack relative to said lstop and flnger in a direction generally parallel with the plane of said endmost fin to alternately move said stop and finger to and from 'operative positions. said successively split olf fins falling edgewiseby gravity into said vertical spaced grooves, and means synchronizing the movement of said splitting off means with the movement of said carriage to fill said grooves in regular order.

4. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like; a frame forming a fln receiving form, nn retaining means mountedfon said frame and providing vertical-spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a

platform on said carriage for holding a stack of ns in upright position generally in alinement with s aid grooves and with an endmost fin arranged at vone extremityv of said platform, means on said carriage adjacent said extremity of said platform for successively splitting oil said endmost fins from said stack and sluiting them in a direction transverse to their faces to a Position beyond said extremity of said platform. com-` prising a pair of fingers mounted on said carriage on opposite. sides of said stack for movement into the space between the endmost fin and the next following fin, and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said carriage and moving said pair of fingers relative tosaid stack to alternately enter said'space and transfer the endmost fin to a position beyond-the extremity of said platform. said successively split oil. fins falling edgewise Iby gravity into said vertical spaced grooves, and means on said carriage beyond said extremity of said platform for guiding said fins so falling into said vertical spaced grooves. i

5. In a machine for fabricating nned lstruc- *tures andthe like, a frame forming a fin yreceiving form, fin retaining means mounted on said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the fins, Va carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means. a platform on said carriage for holding a stack of fins in upright podtion generally inV alinement with said grooves and with an endmost fln arranged at one extremity of said platform, means on said carriage` adjacent said extremity of said said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves 59 platform for successively splitting on said end'- most ilns from said stack and shifting them in a direction transverse to their faces to a position beyond said extremity of said platform, com- A prising a pair oi' stops mounted on said carriage and engaging opposite sides oi' the exposed face of the endmost iin, and a pair ofilngers mounted Y l for receiving edge portions of the ns, a carriage vmounted to travel along said retaining means,

a platform pivotally mounted on said carriage adjacent vone of its ends to move about a horion the carriage each adiacent each `stop for'- movement into the space between the'l endmost iin retained by said stop and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said carriage and moving said pairs oi ilngers and stops inv a direction generally parallel with the plane of said endmost iin to alternately move each'stop and its companion nger to and from operative positions, said successively split of!A iins falling edgewise by lgravity into said vertical spaced grooves, and a guide rali on said carriage exriage adjacent one of its ends to move about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means successively moving the opposite free end oi said platform up and down, said platform holding a stack of ns in upright position in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost fin arranged at the extremity or said i'ree end of said platform, and means actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said 1 platform for splitting od the endmost iin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in one direction and shifting said split off iin in a direction transverse of its face to a position beyond said extremity of said platform, said split od dns falling edgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves.

'l'. In a machine for fabricating finned stru tures-, and the like, a -i'rame forming a fin re= ceiving form, fin retaining means mounted on for receiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a platform pivotaliy mounted on said carriage adjacent one oi its ends to move about a horizontal axis extending transversely oi the line' of movement of said carriage, means successively moving the opposite free end of said platform up and` down, said platform holding a stack o1' ilns in upright position in aiinement with said grooves and with an endmost iin arranged at the extremity oi said free end of said platform, and means actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting od the endmost iin from said stack each time the free and oi the platform moves in an upward direction and shitting said split off iin in a direction transverse of its face to a position.' lbeyond said extremity of said platform, said split od dns zontal axis extending transversely of the line o1' movement oi said carriage, means synchronized with the movement of said carriage along said frame and successively moving the opposite free -end of said platform up and down, said platform holding a stack oi ns in upright position in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost iin Iarranged at the extremity of said' free end of said platform, and means actuated through motion derived from the up and downA movement oi' said free end of said platform for splitting oil' the endmost fin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in one direction and shifting said split oi dn in a direc tion transverse of its face to a position beyond said extremity of said platform, said vsplit o Y fins falling edgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves.

9. In a machine for fabricating nned structures and the like, a frame forming a nn receiving form, ne' retaining means mounted on said frame and providing. vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means,

r a platform pivotally mounted on said carriage adjacent 'one of its ends to move about a horiI zontai axis extending transversely of the line A of movement of said carriage, means succes@- dit sively moving the opposite free end of said platform up and down, said platform holding a stack o1' ns in upright position generally in alinement withsaid grooves and .with an endmost iin arranged at the extremity of Vsaid free end of said platform, means mounted on said free end oi said platform and actuated through motion derived from the pp and down movement 'of said free end of said platform `for splitting off the lower end of the endmost n from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction and shifting said lower end of said split on iin in a direction transverse of its face to a position beyond said extremity of said plat for-m, and means mounted on said carriage above vthe free end of said platform and actuated mounted to travel along said retaining means,

a platform pivotally mounted on said carriage adjacent one of its ends to move about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means successively moving the opposite free end oi said platform up and down, said platform holding a stack `of nos in falling edgewise 'byV gravity into said vertical 'lo spaced grooves. i

8. In a machine for fabricating finned strucupright position generally in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost iin arranged at the extremity of said free end of said platform, means mounted on said free end ofvsaid platform and actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting od the lower end of the endsaid frame and providing vertical spaced grooves most 1in from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction and shifting said lower end of said split of! fin in a direction transverse of its face to a position beyond said extremity of said platform, 1nd means mounted on said carriage above the free end of said platform and actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting of! the upper end of the endmost fin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction and comprising a tooth mounted on said carriage adjacent the top of said stack and in position to beinterposed between said endmost n and the next succeeding fin when said free end of said platform is elevated,y said split off fins falling edgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves. y y j 11. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like, a frame forming a fin receiving form, fin retaining means mounted on said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for 12 rived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting olf the upper end of the endmost nn from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction, and means mounted on the free end of said platform and actuated through motion derived fromthe up and down movement of -said free end of said platform for splitting of! the lower end of the endmost 'fin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward` direction and shifting said lower end of said split off fin in a direction transverse of its face to a position 'beyond the extremity of said platform, comprising an upwardly projecting nger mounted on said free end of said platform in position to be moved upwardly to be interposed between said endmost 'nn and l the nexty succeeding iin and means for moving said finger upwardly into engagement with said endmost fin and the next succeeding iin when said l platform is raised, said split o fins falling edgereceiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means,a platform pivotally mounted on said carriage adjacent one of its ends to move about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means successively moving the opposite free end of said platform up-and down, said platform holding a stack of fins in upright position generally in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost iin arranged at the extremityof said freefend of said platform, means mounted on said free end of said platform and actuated through motion .derived fromthe up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting 0R Amost fin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction and shifting said lower end of said split oil! fin in a direction transverse of its face to a position beyond said extremity of said platform, and means mounted on said carriage above the free end of said platform and actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting of! the upper endof the endmost fin from said stack each time the free end of the platorm moves in an upward direction and comprising a tooth mounted on said carriage adjacent the top of said stack and in position to be interposed between said end- 4 most iin and the next succeeding fin when said free end of said platform is elevated and an abutment mounted on said carriage for adjustment lengthwise of its line of movement and in position to receive between it and said tooth said endmost fin when said free end of said platform is elevated, said splitoff fins falling edgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves.

12. In a machine for fabricating finned struc. tures and the like, a frame forming a iin receiving form, iin retaining means mounted on said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the mis, a. carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a platform pivotally mounted on said carriage acljacent one of its ends to move about a yhorizontal axis 4extending transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means successively moving lthe opposite free end of said platform up and down, said platform holding a, stack lof fins in upright position generally in alinement with said wise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves.

13. in a machine for fabricating finned struc! tures andthe like, a frame forming a fin receiving form,` fin retaining means mounted on said v frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for the lower end of the endreceiving edge portions of the fins. a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a platform pivotally mountedl on said carriage adjacent, one of itsends to move about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means successively moving the opposite free end of said platform up and down said platform holding a stack of fins in upright position generally in alinement with said grooves and with an endmost fin varranged at the extremity of said free end of said platform, means mounted on said 'carriage above the free end of said platform and actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting of! the upper end of the endmost fin from said stack each time'the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction, and means mounted on the free end of said platform and actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting off the lower end of the endmost fin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction and shifting said lower end of said split off fin in a direction transverse of its v face to a position beyond the extremity of said platform, comprising an upwardly projecting nnger mounted on said free end of said platform in position to be moved upwardly to be interposed between said endmost iin and the next succeeding fin and means for moving said finger upwardly into engagement with said endmost fin and the to travel along said retaining means,

grooves and with an endmost iin arranged at the extremity f said free end of said platform, means mounted on said carriage above the free end of next succeeding n when said platform is raised, comprising a bell crank lever pivotally secured to said platform, means securing said finger to one arm of said bellecrank lever and a link connecting the'other ann of saidbell crank lever with said carriage, said split off fins falling edgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves.

14. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like, a frame forming a nn receiving form, nn retaining means mounted on said frame y and providing vertical spaced grooves for` receiving edge portions of the fins, a carriage mounted a platform pivotally mounted on said carriage adjacent one of its ends to move about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the line of movement of said carriage, means successively moving the op- 13 posite free end of said platform up and down, said platform holding a stack of iins in upright position generally in elinement with said grooves and with an endmost fin arranged at the extremity of said free end of said platform, means mounted on said carriagevabove the free end of said'platform and actuated through motion derived from the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting oi the upper end f the endmost iin from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in an upward direction, an inclined guide rail mounted on said carriage and having its upper end arranged to engage the face of the endmost n of said stack when said free end of` said platform is in a lowered position and thereby retain saidstack on said platform and anca-ico y means mounted on the free endof said platform and actuated through motion derived froml the up and down movement of said free end of said platform for splitting oi the lower end of the endmost nn from said stack each time the free end of the platform moves in ,an upward direction and shifting said lower end oi said split od nn` in a direction transverse of its face and over said upper end of said inclined guide rail, said split oi ns falling edgewise by gravity down said guide rail into said vertical spaced grooves.

l5. En a machine for fabricating nnned structures and the like, a trame forming a iin receiving form, dn retaining means mounted on said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions oi the dns, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a

platform on said carriage for holding. a stack oi nns in upright positiongenerally in alinement with said grooves andV with an endmost fin arranged at one extremity or said platform, means on said carriage adjacent said extremity oi said platform for successively splitting oil" said endmost .tins from said stack andshifting them in a direction transverse to their -iaces to a. position beyond said extremity oi said platform, said suecessively split oil' iins falling dgewise by gravity into said vertical spaced grooves, a guide rail on said carriage extending downwardly `irorn adjacent said extremity oi' said platform and guiding the lower edges oi said ns so falling, and a leaf spring at the lower endof said guide rail and engaging said form at the upper ends oi' said vertical spaced grooves and guiding the lower edges of the falling ns into said' grooves.

i6. In a machine for fabricating finned struc- Y tures and the like, a frame forming a iin receiving form, n retaining means mounted on said r frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for 14 Y receiving .edge portions of the iins,a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a motor mounted on said carriage, a gear wheel mounted on said carriage and having teeth enf gaging said grooves, means operatively connecting said gear wheel and motor Whereby'said carriage is propelled along said retaining means by engagement of the teeth of said gear wheel with said grooves, supporting means on said carriage holding a stack of iins, and means on said carriage and synchronized with said gear wheel for removing ns from said stack and depositing them in the spaced grooves in said retaining means.

17. In a machine for fabricating nned structures and the like, a frame forming a fin receiving form, n retaining means mounted on said. frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of 4the nns, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a motor mounted on said carriage, a gear Wheel mounted on said carriage and having teeth engaging said grooves, means operatively connecting said gear wheel and motor whereby said carriage is propelled along said retaining means by engagement of the teeth of said gear wheel with said grooves, supporting means on said carriage holding a stackgof fins, a star Wheel rotated by 'said motor in synchronism with said gear wheel and means actuated by the teeth of said .star

' wheelvfor removing ns from said stack and de- 'positing them in said spaced grooves in said retainingrmeans,

18. In a machine for fabricating finned structures and the like, a frame forming a n receiving form, iin retaining means mounted on said frame and providing vertical spaced grooves for receiving edge portions of the iins, a carriage mounted to travel along said retaining means, a motor mounted on said carriage, a gear Wheel mounted on said carriage and having teeth en-l gaging said grooves, means operatively connecting said gear wheel and motor whereby said oarriage is propelled yalong `said retaining means hy engagement of the teeth ot said gear Wheel with said grooves, supporting means on said carriage holding 'a stack of fins in an 'upright position, means on said carriage for successively splitting on the endmostns from said stack, andnieans synchronized with said gear wheel for operating said splitting od means, the ns so successively split on from said stack falling edgewise bv gravity into said vertical spaced grooves, 

